Abstract
BackgroundAsthma-COPD overlap (ACO) according to GINA and GOLD is not a single disease and is described by persistent airflow limitation with several features usually associated with asthma and several features usually associated with COPD. Some different protocols were proposed to diagnose ACO, besides those reported in GINA and GOLD guidelines. Despite the discrepancy between all the proposed diagnostic protocols, the diagnosis of ACO is still worthy as it may lead to a more appropriate treatment plan. In Egypt, prevalence of ACO is hardly estimated due to lack of database of patients. Our aim of work was to detect the prevalence of ACO in patients diagnosed as having a chronic airflow limiting disease.ResultsIn asthma group (75 patients), 53.3% (40 patients) were diagnosed as ACO with 3 statistically significant favoring diagnostic criteria; post-BDR test FEV1/FVC < 70%, longer disease duration, and sputum neutrophilia ≥ 57%. While in COPD group (75 patients), 42.7% (32 patients) were diagnosed as ACO with four statistically significant favoring diagnostic criteria; higher BDR, presence of personal history of either asthma or atopy and sputum eosinophils > 1%.ConclusionsACO has an underestimated prevalence among those diagnosed with either asthma or COPD. More consensus guidelines are needed to focus on the more effective and the more practical criteria to diagnose such hidden disease.
Highlights
Asthma-Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap (ACO) according to Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) and Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) is not a single disease and is described by persistent airflow limitation with several features usually associated with asthma and several features usually associated with COPD
Asthma-COPD overlap (ACO) according to GINA and GOLD is not a single disease, and is described by persistent airflow limitation with several features usually associated with asthma and several features usually associated with COPD [1, 2]
Based on sample size calculation done in the statistics department of Alexandria Medicine Faculty, we aimed to assess 75 patients diagnosed as asthma and another 75 patients diagnosed as COPD with the exclusion of patients aged below 18 years, having any other respiratory diseases or refused to give a written informed consent
Summary
Despite the discrepancy between all the proposed diagnostic protocols, the diagnosis of ACO is still worthy as it may lead to a more appropriate treatment plan. Our aim of work was to detect the prevalence of ACO in patients diagnosed as having a chronic airflow limiting disease. Despite the discrepancy between all those protocols, the diagnosis of ACO is still worthy as it may lead to a more appropriate treatment plan. The reported prevalence of ACO varies greatly between 15 and 55% of patients with chronic airways disease, due to the different diagnostic criteria used and the different population, it ranges between 1.6% and 4.5% in general population studies and up to 27% and 33% among asthma and COPD populations, respectively [19, 20]. We aimed at detecting the prevalence of ACO in patients diagnosed as having a chronic airflow limiting disease
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
